WW: Hello Danny, how are you today?
DH: I'm great, thank you.
WW: How was your childhood? Where did you grow up?
DH: I had a wonderful childhood. I was born and raised in
Torrance, CA with two sisters and one brother. Just your
average family life... with a few bumps along the way.
Some bumps bigger than others...
WW: What made you get involved with performing and
writing music?
DH: It was a slow process.... I got hit by a truck while riding my bike when I was in 8th grade, 1991. I was hospitalized with many broken bones, including both legs, my left arm and my skull! After the hospital, I was sent home in a wheelchair and lived like that for quite a few months. My left arm healed before my legs and since there was a guitar at my house and since I had nothing else to do, I decided to try and learn how to play! I had a chart of chords and taught myself... I had messed around a little with the guitar before this but never really took the time to learn until then. That's how it all started... writing songs came soon after, but performing in public didn't start until late 1996. After the biggest bump in my life.
WW: Who has always been an influence on your music?
DH: Everyone and anything can influence my music. My music is about life... every aspect of it. Anything that makes an impact on me in one way or another will no doubt come out in a song someday.
WW: What CD's are in your stereo currently?
DH: EVERYTHING! Jack Johnson, Jewel, Tori Amos, Ben Harper, Dave Matthews, Led Zeppelin, Kid Rock, Metallica, Beatles, Pearl Jam, Cowboy Junkies, George Thorogood, Social Distortion, Guns N Roses, Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, Beck, Robbie Robertson, Enya, Carlos Nakai, lots of movie oundtracks.... I have a 200 disc changer!
WW: Where does the inspiration come for writing your own music?
DH: Inspiration for a song can come from anywhere or anything... I get inspired by people, by music, by nature.... Emotions really. Anything that causes any
sort of emotion in me, wether it be positive or negative emotion... that's where inspiration comes from for my songs. I think that's how it is with any art. And I never know when a song is going to come... I never sit down and say "ok, I'm going to write a song now..." they just pop out of nowhere. Sometimes many come at once and other times none come at all for long periods of time... This usually happens when I'm too caught up in things that aren't really important.
WW: Do you like touring and performing on the road?
DH: I have yet to go on "the road" or on any sort of organized "tour" but I have performed at random places in many different states. For the most part, I've been playing the local Southern CA scene on and off since 1997. Since the band formed, we've been playing more and more, and I love every minute of it! I do both solo acoustic shows and full band shows... each one is a great experience. If I'm not creating music I feel empty inside and if I don't perform the music I create I start to feel anxious and unsettled... like it needs to come out.... it's bigger than me.
WW: Have you had any CD releases? Where can we get them?
DH: I have independantly released 3 full length cd's so far, all of which are available through my website, dannyhamilton.com. I also have a live cd sampler which anyone can sign up for and get for free, also through the website. This live cd is the first recording I've done with the band... the previous cd's have been all just me... either solo acoustic or multitrack home recordings. I am going into the studio next week to start on my first professionally produced, recorded and engineered album, with the full band.... and I'm really excited about that. Look for that in a few months!
WW: What do you have in store for the future?
DH: I have no idea what is in store for me in the future. I try not to look any farther than I can see. One thing in my life that I've learned so far is; the more I try and PLAN things in my life, the less my life turns out the way I planned it! So I just go with the flow, bumps and all.
WW: If you could work with any other artist, who would it be and why?
DH: I'd work with any artist that wanted to to work with ME! But if I had to narrow it down... and if I had a choice... I'd want to work with artists who sing about truth and emotions. Artists who portray goodness and kindness in their music. Artists who stand for what it is to be human. Artists who are REAL people. I can't narrow it down by names. I have so much love and respect for so many artists and so many types of music.
WW: Do you have a message to any fans, or soon-to-be fans?
DH: You are not alone.
WW: Well Danny, thanks! www.WildWritings.com will support you and your future music career.
DH: Thank you very much.
